Disconnectable yoke mooring systems and processes for using same

A disconnectable submerged yoke mooring system for mooring a vessel floating on a surface of a body of water, comprising:

• a base structure configured to be disposed on a seabed;
• a turntable configured to be connected to the base structure such that the turntable is rotatable with respect to the base structure;
• a yoke comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the yoke is configured to be connected to the turntable in a manner permitting the yoke to at least partially rotate about a longitudinal axis of the yoke and to at least partially rotate about a second axis that is substantially orthogonal or substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the yoke;
• a ballast tank or weight disposed on the yoke toward or at the second end thereof;
• a first rotary winch and a second rotary winch each configured to be disposed on the vessel;
• a first link arm and a second link arm each having a first end connected to the second end of the yoke or, optionally if present, to the ballast tank or, optionally if present, to the weight;
• a first releasable connector and a second releasable connector each comprising a first component coupled to a second end of the first link arm and a second end of the second link arm, respectively, and a second component configured to be coupled to the vessel;
• a first lifting line having a first end configured to be connected to the first component of the first releasable connector and a second lifting line having a first end configured to be connected to the first component of the second releasable connector, wherein:
• the yoke is configured to be disposed below the surface of the body of water,
• the first lifting line and the second lifting line are configured to be connected to the first rotary winch and the second rotary winch, respectively, and
• when the first and second rotary winches are disposed on the vessel and the first and second lifting lines are connected to the first and second rotary winches, respectively, and the first end of the first and second lifting lines are connected to the first component of the first and second releasable connectors, respectively, the first and second rotary winches are configured to lift and lower the first and second link arms, at least a portion of the yoke, and at least a portion of the ballast tank or the weight.

A disconnectable submerged yoke mooring system for mooring a vessel floating on a surface of a body of water, comprising:

• a base structure configured to be disposed on a seabed;
• a turntable configured to be connected to the base structure such that the turntable is rotatable with respect to the base structure about a vertical axis;
• a yoke comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the yoke is configured to be connected to the turntable in a manner permitting the yoke to at least partially rotate about a longitudinal axis of the yoke and to at least partially rotate about a second axis that is substantially orthogonal or substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the yoke;
• a ballast tank disposed on the yoke toward or at the second end thereof configured to contain a ballast material;
• a first rotary winch and a second rotary winch each configured to be disposed on the vessel;
• a first link arm and a second link arm each having a first end connected to the second end of the yoke or to the ballast tank;
• a first releasable connector and a second releasable connector each comprising a first component coupled to a second end of the first link arm and a second end of the second link arm, respectively, and a second component configured to be coupled to the vessel;
• a first lifting line having a first end configured to be connected to the first component of the first releasable connector and a second lifting line having a first end configured to be connected to the first component of the second releasable connector, wherein:
• the yoke is configured to be disposed below the surface of the body of water,
• the first lifting line and the second lifting line are configured to be connected to the first rotary winch and the second rotary winch, respectively, and
• when the first and second rotary winches are disposed on the vessel and the first and second lifting lines are connected to the first and second rotary winches, respectively, and the first end of the first and second lifting lines are connected to the first component of the first and second releasable connectors, respectively, the first and second rotary winches are configured to lift and lower the first and second link arms, at least a portion of the yoke, and at least a portion of the ballast tank.

A disconnectable submerged yoke mooring system for mooring a vessel floating on a surface of a body of water, comprising:

• a base structure configured to be disposed on a seabed;
• a turntable configured to be connected to the base structure such that the turntable is rotatable with respect to the base structure about a vertical axis;
• a yoke comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the yoke is configured to be connected to the turntable in a manner permitting the yoke to at least partially rotate about a longitudinal axis of the yoke and to at least partially rotate about a second axis that is substantially orthogonal or substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the yoke;
• a ballast tank or weight disposed on the yoke toward or at the second end thereof;
• a lifting device configured to be disposed on the vessel;
• a link arm comprising two arms each having a first end connected to the second end of the yoke, the ballast tank, or the weight, wherein a second end of each of the two arms converge with one another;
• a releasable connector comprising a first component coupled to the link arm where the two arms converge with one another, and a second component configured to be coupled to the vessel;
• a lifting line having a first end configured to be connected to the first component of the releasable connector, wherein:
• the yoke is configured to be disposed below the surface of the water,
• the lifting line is configured to be connected to the lifting device, and
• when the lifting device is disposed on the vessel and the lifting line is connected to the lifting device, and the first end of the lifting line is connected to the first component of the releasable connector, the lifting device is configured to lift and lower the link arm, at least a portion of the yoke, and at least a portion of the ballast tank or the weight.